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Can't cry. Baffled

(63 Posts)
Alypoole Tue 19-Aug-25 15:19:44

Not sure this an actual health problem and it's going to sound very weird. I don't cry anymore. It just doesn't seem to happen. It's not that I don't feel, I do. Why no tears. I seem so hard. Is anyone else like this?

Georgesgran Tue 19-Aug-25 15:33:30

I’m the opposite. As I’ve aged, I’ve become more sentimental and often shed a few tears - embarrassing sometimes.

Knittypamela Tue 19-Aug-25 16:10:11

I dread crying as I become congested and start choking.

Aldom Tue 19-Aug-25 16:17:33

Certain medication can suppress tears.

Oreo Tue 19-Aug-25 18:10:16

Blocked tear ducts?

Ellie Anne Tue 19-Aug-25 18:40:41

Alypool I’m the same. Haven’t cried for years. Was at my friends funeral last week and had a tear in my eye but nothing more.

keepingquiet Tue 19-Aug-25 18:40:43

I have constantly wet eyes, which disguises the fact that I do get emotional too! The smallest things set me off...

pinkprincess Tue 19-Aug-25 19:38:03

I have never cried for years. Felt very emotional yes but a long time since tears flowed. not even when my DH died five years ago.I blamed it on him being ill for a long time and so his death was not unexpected.

crazyH Tue 19-Aug-25 19:52:52

Come to think of it, I can’t remember when I last cried. I’ve had plenty of reasons for it. I’ve been sad these past few days, because it was my birthday on the 14th and my two sons decided to go away on holiday. But, not sad enough to cry. Thank Heaven for my daughter. She took me out shopping and then for a meal.
But the hurt caused by the boys is still there. I will eventually get over it I guess.

Luckygirl3 Tue 19-Aug-25 20:13:17

I'm not good at much - but crying is my speciality! Children singing always sets me off .......

Deedaa Tue 19-Aug-25 20:26:18

I'm the same pinkprincess I've never cried since my husband died. He'd been ill for 10 years and we knew it would happen in the end. It was devastating but crying just never happened.

Aveline Tue 19-Aug-25 20:30:07

I haven't cried because I'm upset about something for years. However, sometimes tears sneak up on me listening to great music or watching a drama. I had tears in my eyes watching the VJ commemoration last week. Suddenly, just there.

Iam64 Tue 19-Aug-25 21:00:55

I didn’t cry until my husband’s diagnosis, then his death,
I cry easily now

Kate1949 Tue 19-Aug-25 21:15:40

I don't cry now really. I have used all my tears up.

FindingNemo15 Tue 19-Aug-25 22:13:34

Oreo as you mentioned I have blocked tear ducts and have not cried for years. I often feel a good cry would do me good.

Aldom Wed 20-Aug-25 07:15:29

Blocked tear ducts do not prevent emotional crying.
I had surgery for my blocked tear ducts. Prior to the operation tears constantly ran down my face.
I could also cry emotionally.

Babs03 Wed 20-Aug-25 07:25:26

Sjögren’s syndrome can cause a lack of tears, is an autoimmune condition which I once thought I had post menopause because everything dried up so dramatically, I couldn’t cry either. Is also notoriously hard to diagnose but luckily I didn’t have it because now at 68 can cry all too easily.
Am wondering if is a post menopause thing.

Iam64 Wed 20-Aug-25 08:06:58

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens in my early 40’s, along with other auto immune conditions

I can cry tears, my eyes often run despite blocked tear ducts and very dry eyes

AGAA4 Wed 20-Aug-25 08:28:35

I can cry quite easily but my mum in her later years had no tears. Even when my dad died she wasn't able to shed years.

Grandmabatty Wed 20-Aug-25 08:33:41

I don't often cry, even when I have a good reason to. No idea when it started. I didn't cry at mum's funeral this year and I'm sure my brother thought I was unfeeling and hard. Maybe I am

Babs03 Wed 20-Aug-25 08:39:24

Sorry, I’m stand corrected, and in any case I didn’t have this condition so not being able to cry post menopause was obvs down to something else.

Babs03 Wed 20-Aug-25 08:39:47

*I stand corrected

Woollywoman Wed 20-Aug-25 08:42:10

Aldom, you’re right about certain types of medication suppressing tears. I am on one, and found it disconcerting at first not to be able to shed tears as easily as previously.

Granmarderby10 Wed 20-Aug-25 08:43:36

Snap! Same here🥲

Marmight Wed 20-Aug-25 08:54:10

I can cry on demand.
The older I get the more I cry. I sobbed my way through the VJ programme, thinking of my Dad. I cry every time I see those desperate children in Gaza. I cry when I think of the grandchildren I rarely see in Oz. I cry when I remember my old dog Charlie, my late parents, my old house in Scotland where we brought up the family, and I cry every time I think of my late DH. I should have taken out shares in Kleenex. It becomes a bit embarrassing all this blubbing ….😭